Impact of Laughter Therapy on Anxiety and Pain in Pediatric Dentistry: A Double-Blinded Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effect of laughter therapy on reducing anxiety and pain during dental procedures in children 5-7 years of age. Material and Methods: 48 children aged 5-7 years were included in this cross-over double-blinded clinical trial after the parents completed the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorder questionnaire (SCARED). After allocation into two groups: laughter intervention (A) and neutral intervention (B), the anxiety as well as pain were determined by Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale Faces questionnaire (MCDASF) and the Wong-Baker Faces Scale, respectively. Also, the child's behavior during the treatment was recorded using the Sound, Eye, Motor scale (SEM). Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 using Paired t-test, Independent t-test, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon's test. Results: The mean score of anxiety in the laughter intervention group (17.42±2.74) was significantly less than (22.06±2.16) in the neutral intervention group (p=0.000) and lower in boys in both groups (p=0.000, p=0.047). The mean pain severity reported by the children in the neutral intervention group (5.33±1.81) was higher than in the laughter intervention group (2.38±1.87; p=0.00) and higher in girls in both groups (p=0.02; p=0.03). Conclusion: The laughter intervention before dental procedures had a significant effect on reducing anxiety and pain during dental treatment (AU).

effects of laughter therapy on general health of elderly people referring to Jahandidegan community center in Shiraz, Iran, 2014: a randomized controlled trial

Aging and its social-biological process naturally impair the functions of different body organs and cause progressive disabilities in managing personal affairs and performing social roles. Laughter therapy is an important strategy which has been recommended by experts for increasing health promotion in older adults. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of laughter therapy program on public health of senior citizens. In a randomized controlled trial, we enrolled 72 senior citizens aged 60 and over referring to Jahandidegan [Khold-e-Barin] retirement community center in Shiraz, southwest Iran during January to February 2014. The participants were assigned into experimental [N=36] and control [N=36] groups. Data were collected using General Health Questionnaire [GHQ-28] and demographic questionnaire. The participants of experimental group attended a laughter therapy program consisting of two 90-minute sessions per week lasting for 6 weeks. We found a statistically significant correlation between laughter therapy program and factors such as general health [P=0.001], somatic symptoms [P=0.001], insomnia and anxiety [P=0.001]. However, there was no statistically significant correlation among laughter therapy, social dysfunction [P=0.28] and depression [P=0.069]. We concluded that laughter therapy can improve general health and its subscales in elderly people

A terapia aquática como coadjuvante na variação do humor em mulheres pós-menopáusicas / Aquatic Therapy Supporting the Variation of humor in women post menopausal women

Objetivo: Observar a influência de um programa de exercícios terapêuticos em piscina, nas sintomatologias menopáusica e depressiva em um grupo de mulheres na menopausa. Material e Métodos: Estudo de intervenção do tipo longitudinal, com abordagem quantitativa e medidas pré e pós-tratamento, em população de mulheres menopáusicas. Instrumentos de coleta de dados: Índice Menopausal de Blatt e Kuppermanne Escala de Depressão Geriátrica de Black & Yesavage. Osdados foram analisados utilizando-se o software Statiscal Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) versão 16.0 para Windows, além do teste estatístico Wilcoxon e do teste de Correlação de Spearman. Resultados: No que diz respeito àsintomatologia menopáusica, observou-se Média (SD) antes de 11,73 (9,90) e depois da intervenção de 7,60 (5,60), com uma diferença significativa (z=-3,293; p=0,001) entre as medidas pré e pós-tratamento. Quanto aos sintomas de depressão, observou-se Média (SD) antes de 13,3 (5,5) e depois de 9,0 (5,9), houve diferença significativa (z=-2,003;p=0,045) entre as medidas pré e pós-tratamento, resultados confirmados pelo teste de Correlação de Spearman.Conclusão: Verificou-se que a hidroterapia proporciona benefícios físicos e funcionais, tais como alívio nas ondas de calor e melhoria no humor e na imagem corporal,aumentando a auto-estima feminina e diminuindo asintomatologia depressiva abundantemente encontrada nas mulheres menopáusicas.

Objective: To observe the influence of an aquatic therapeuticexercise program on menopausal symptoms and depressionin a group of menopausal women. Material and Methods:This was a longitudinal intervention study, with a quantitativeapproach and pre- and post-treatment measures in apopulation of menopausal women. Instruments for datacollection: Blatt and Kuppermann Menopausal Index and Black& Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale. Data were analyzedusing the software Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS) version 16.0 for Windows, in addition to Wilcoxonstatistical test and Spearman’s correlation test. Results: The mean (SD) of menopausal symptoms before and afterintervention was found to be 11.73 (9.90) and 7.60 (5.60),respectively, with a significant difference (z=-3.293; p=0.001) between pre- and post-treatment measures. For symptoms of depression, means (SD) of 13.3 (5.5) and 9.0 (5.9) were observed before and after intervention, with a significant difference (z=-2.003; p=0.045) between pre- and post treatment measures, confirmed by the Spearman correlationtest. Conclusion: Hydrotherapy was found to provide physicaland functional benefits, such as relief of heat waves and improvement in mood and body image, increasing female self esteem and reducing depression symptoms abundantly found in menopausal women.